Tri-City High School senior Colton Eckhardt stays motivated when studying for semester finals by reminding himself that grades can have a huge impact on the future.

“If you don’t do (well) on your finals, obviously your GPA (is) going to be affected and that affects your college, which then affects the rest of your life,” Colton said.

As the end of the semester approaches, teens can sometimes struggle to get prepared for the cumulative tests. With winter break approaching, high schoolers have just a few more weeks to prepare for finals. Most schools administer the tests just before students take time off for the holidays.

Colton starts studying a couple weeks before finals.

His methods depend on the layout of a particular exam, but he usually studies by using flashcards and looking over class notes. He works in a quiet environment so he can stay focused.

But, Kirstyn Durazzo believes studying while listening to music works best for her. She also enjoys working with study groups, which can offer encouragement.

The Tri-City senior found studying at least one week in advance may mean the difference between passing and failing an exam.

“When you cram (studying) in, you panic during tests and then you end up missing stuff that you know,” she said.

When studying, Kirstyn creates and uses outlines, helping her highlight important facts. She also uses note cards and reviews notes she took during class.

Find what works

While studying, be sure to eat healthy snacks, such as apples, and take short breaks every hour, according to an article titled “10 High School Study Tips for Students” from About.com. During your breaks, do something not related to school. Consider taking a walk.

Before an exam, make a mock test to see what you need to work on. Also, be sure to get full night of sleep before a test day.

Tri City High School guidance counselor Sarah Heberling said studying for finals requires organizational skills.

Heberling suggests students have a binder or folder to store study materials, such as worksheets and notes. By doing this, they will have material to use for study guides, she said.

Work with friends and other classmates who are taking the same courses, Heberling said.

“I used to study with my friends in high school, just doing study sessions because sometimes there were things that I would pick and they wouldn’t, and vice versa,” she said.

Teens should talk to teachers if they are unsure about a topic covered in class or if they have questions about the study guides.

When it comes to last-minute studying, or cramming, Heberling said effectiveness depends on the student.

Page 2 of 2 - “If you are (a student) that pays attention in class throughout the semester and you’re good at retaining information, then maybe doing a cram session the night before might be beneficial,” she said. “(But) I would never suggest that to a student because if you don’t pay attention every day, you’re gone a lot from school, or you don’t retain (information well), then you’re not going (to) learn it,” she said.

It’s good for high schoolers to identify the study habits that work best for them because exams and assignments will become more difficult in college, Cathryn Sloane wrote in an article for U.S. News & World Report.

“Some current college students say that identifying these study strategies in high school paves the path to success in university academics,” she wrote.

Try a variety of study methods to see what works best. Try making flashcards, switching between subjects to avoid overwhelming yourself. Or have a friend quiz you on the material, according to the article.

“The potential strategies are limitless and can each be tailored differently to the individual person’s learning style — but identifying that style is key,” Sloane wrote.